Tractor-driven lawn mower

ABSTRACT

A TRACTOR-DRIVEN LAWN MOWER INCLUDING A TRACTOR HAVING AN ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED THEREON AND HAVING A MOWER PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ON THE EXTENDING END OF THE ARM. THE MOWER HAS TWO SPACED-APART SIDE MEMBERS AND A MOWER REEL AND A BED KNIFE EXTENDING BETWEEN THE SIDE MEMBERS. THE REEL IS ADJUSTABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM THE BED KNIFE. CONICALLY SHAPED BEARINGS SUPPORT THE REEL ON THE SIDE MEMBERS, AND A SPRING URGES THE REEL IN A DIRECTION   THE SAME AS THE DIRECTION WHICH THE REEL IS URGED IN AS ITS SPIRALLED BLADES MOVE IN CUTTING ROTATION OVER THE BED KNIFE. A DRIVE TRAIN EXTENDS FROM THE TRACTOR TO THE MOWER REEL, AND DRIVE GEARS ARE INCLUDED IN THE TRAIN AND HAVE A BEVELED GEAR WHICH IS ON THE REEL SHAFT AND URGES THE REEL SHAFT IN THE SAME DIRECTION THAT THE SPRING URGES THE SHAFT.

Ott. 19, 1971 s C. AKGULlAN ETAL 3,613,340

TRACTOR-DRIVEN LAWN MOWER 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 9, 1970 mw fl V1G fm@ m wm W E m Ww N we@ Mm Ic mw# @WMMU Oct. 19, 1971 Q C AKGUUAN ETAL3,613,340

TRACTOR-DRIVEN LAWN MOWER Filed April 9, 1970 7 Sheets-Sheet 7?.

I /V l/ E N TORSJ SAHA G C. AKGUL /AN DONALD G. HAF/WER SHERMAN C. HET/1@www A ron/VU Oct. 19, 1971 5, Q AKGUUAN ETAL 3,613,340

TRACTOR-DRIVEN LAWN MOWER 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 9, 1970 www mmf@r T fArH M MMH. M WCGN w/ r l DA T GLM A AAR MME,

Oct' 19 1971 s. c. AKGULIAN ETAL 3,613,340

TRACTORDR'IVEN LAWN MOWER v 7 sheets-sheet 4.

Filed April E), 197C INVENTORS- SA/46 C. AKGUL/AN DOMILD G. HAF/'NERSHERMAN C. HE7/l @A roR/VEV Oct. 19, 1971 s. c, AKGUUAN ETAL 3,613,340

TRACTOR-DRIVEN LAWN MowER K Filed April 9, 1970 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN1/EN70H5! SAHAG C. A/(GLL/AN DOAMLD G. HAFFAR SHERMAN C. HE TH d rroR/s/EyOct. 19, 1971 s. c. AKGULIAN EVAL 3,613,340

TRACTOR-DRIVEN LAWN MOWER 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 9, 1970INVENTORS! SAHAG C, AKGUL/A/V DONALD G. HAF/WER SHERMAN C HE TH A TTORNEY 0d. 19, 1971 5 Q AKGUUAN EVAL 3,613,34

TnAcToR-bmvnw LAWN Mowm Filed April E), 1970 7 Shect5-hcc 'l' 13IM/wrmsf .wm c. Mmm/v am@ c. Wma-R f- A rroR/vEy United States PatentOffice 3,613,340 Patented Oct. 19, 1971 3,613,340 TRACTOR-DRIVEN LAWNMOWER Sahag C. Akgulian, Donald G. Haffner, and Sherman C.

Heth, Racine, Wis., assignors to Jacobsen Manufacturing Company, Racine,Wis.

Filed Apr. 9, 1970, Ser. No. 27,043 Int. Cl. A01d 55/20 U.S. Cl. 56-2497 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tractor-driven lawn mower.including a tractor having an arm pivotally mounted thereon and having amower pivotally supported on the extending end of the arm. The mower hastwo spaced-apart side members and a mower reel and a bed knife extending'between the side members. The reel is adjustable toward and away fromthe bed knife. `Conically shaped bearings support the reel on the sidemembers, and a spring urges the reel in a direction the same as thedirection which the reel is urged in as its spiralled blades move incutting rotation over the bed knife. A drive train extends from thetractor to the mower leel, and drive gears are included in the train andhave a beveled gear which is on the reel shaft and urges the reel shaftin the same direction that the spring urges the shaft.

This invention relates to a tractor-driven lawn mower. Moreparticularly, it relates to a reel type of lawn mower which has anadjustably mounted reel for movement toward and away from the bed knife,and the reel is also spring-loaded relative to the bearings whichrotatably support the reel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Tractor-driven lawn mowers which arearticularly supported on the tractor and which are powered by thetractor, are commonly known. Such prior art mowers are of the reel type,and they are also commonly provided with ground engaging skids forpivotally supporting the mower relative to the tractor for accommodationof undulations in the contour of the grass being mowed. However, theseprior art mowers are not known to exist in efficient and completelyarticular mountings relative to the tractor, in that the mowers arecommonly limited in their pivotal action and the mowers are thereforenot required to be driven by means which accommodate full articulationof the mowers. That is, a fully articulate drive to the mowers is notprovided nor known, so the full articulation of the mower itself is notprovided in the prior art mowers.

Further, the prior art is aware of mowers which have spring loaded mowerreels, but those mowers are not arranged with the spring functioning tokeep the mowers snug with the reel-supporting bearings and with thesprings then acting to permit the reel to adjust when and if the reelblades strike debris. That is, the prior art mowers are confronted withthe problem of damage to the reel when it strikes debris, but the mowershave not suitably been arranged to overcome the problem of reel damage.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an articularlymounted reel type mower on a tractor, and have the mower be fullyarticulate or pivotal while the mower is being positively powered by thetractor. In accomplishing this object, the mower of the presentinvention is fully articularly pivoted on the tractor, and the drivetrain from the tractor to the mower is arranged to permit fullarticulation of the mower, without any impeding or h ampering of thearticulate or pivotal motion of the mower.

Another object of this invention is to provide a reel typetractor-mounted mower wherein the mower reel is spring-urged relative tothe supporting bearings and relative to the axial displacement of thereel with spiralled blades, as caused by the cutting action of thespiralled blades.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a reel type lawnmower wherein the reel is adjustably mounted relative to the mower bedknife, so that the reel can `be accurately positioned and adjustedrelative to the bed knife, in that the reel is movable toward and awayfrom the bed knife, and such mounting and movement is by novel meansdisclosed herein.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading thefollowing disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of agang lawn mower having a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of FIG. 1, but with the mowers in theraised and transport position.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a central portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged rear elevational View of a portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4, and withparts added thereto.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective View of a portion of FIG. 1, on anenlarged scale.

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a portion of FIG. 1, on an enlargedscale.

FIG. 8 is a sectional View taken on the line 8 8 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a sectional View similar to FIG. y8, but showing a differentmower.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a fragment of FIG. l, andwith the view being taken from the front right side of the machine ofFIG. l.

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of FIG. 10, with parts added theretoand with parts removed, and with the parts shown in their raised ortransport position.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged side elevational view of a fragment of the mowershown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 12, on a reduced scale and showinga fragment thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A tractor frame 10supportsk an engine 11, an operators seat12 and a steering wheel 13. Tworearwardly mounted ground wheels 14 and two forwardly mounted groundwheels 16 are also included in the tractor. The rear wheels 14 are thesteering wheels which are controlled by steering arms 17 suitablyconnected to a steering rod 18 extending between the upright rear wheelconnector 19 and the steering column 21. The front wheels 16 are thepowered or traction wheels, and they are shown to be driven through ahydraulic unit designated 22 which is powered through a rod 23 extendingbetween the unit 22 and a box 24. The engine 11 has a shaft 26 extendingto the box 24, and a suitable sprocket and chain drive extends in thebox 24 from shaft 26 and connects to the rod 23 for powering thehydraulic unit 22 which in turn drives the front traction wheels 16.

Five reel type lawn mowers are powered by the prime mover 11 and arepivotally supported on the tractor or its frame 10, and such mowers arethe two front mowers 27 and 28 and the two side or wing mowers 29 and 30and the center mower 31, all ve of which are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The front mowers 27 and 28 have a sleeve 32 which telescopicallyreceives a shaft 33 attached to a pivot arm 34 pivotally mounted on apin 36 on the tractor frame 10. A tension spring 37 is connected to thearm 34 and the tractor 10 and is therefore available for transferringsome of the weight of the front mower to the tractor, and there is aspring 37 for each of the two front mowers 27 and 28. Also, arm 34 has apin 38 which swings into the path of the position of a latch 39 on thetractor 10, and the pin end 41 is engaged by the latch 39 to hold thefront mower in the raised position of FIG. 2. FIG. 6 shows the frontview of the latch 39, and the operator would simply grip the forwardlyprojecting end of the pin 38 and lift the front mower into the latchedposition described.

Wing mowers 29 and 31 are pivotally supported on the tractor through asupport arm 42, rigid with the tractor frame 10 for providing a pivotshaft 43 for each respective one of the wing mowers 29 and 30. Thus, apivot arm 44 is pivoted on the shaft 43 and carries a shaft 46 which istelescoped in a sleeve 47 secured to the wing mower.

The center mower 31 is also pivoted on the tractor 10, and it has ashaft 43 supported on the frame arm 42 and and telescopically receivedwithin a sleeve 49. A mower pivot arm 51 extends from a connection withthe sleeve 4'9 and to a shaft 52 telescopically received within a sleeve53 aflixed to the mower 31.

FIGS. 2, 10, and 11 show that the wing mowers 29 and 30 and the centermower 31 are pivotal to the transport position and are connectedtogether for raising the mowers. The operator can lift the wing mowers29 and 30, and each mower has a tension spring 54 connected to the mowerpivot arm 44, through a plate 56, and connected to the tractor 10, inany suitable manner. The wing mowers and center mower are connectedthrough an adjustable linkage 57, the opposite ends of which areslidable in slots 58 in plates 59 mounted on each of the two wing mowersand on the center mower. FIG. 2 shows that when the wing mower 29 israised, the linkage 57 forces upwardly on the bracket 59 on the centermower 31 to raise the center mower to the position shown in FIG. 2. Asimilar linkage 57 and two brackets 59 connect between the right wingmower 30 and the right side of the center mower 31 to lift the rightside of the center mower also.

A tension spring 61 is connected between the tractor 10 and the centermower lift arm 51 for taking some of the weight of the center mower 31.

The structure of each of the five mowers is identical and includes thetwo side plates 62 and 63, as shown in FIG. 6. Mower frame tubes 64 and66 are connected between the side plates 62 and 63, and the mowerrespective sleeves, such as the sleeve 32, are secured to thecross-tubes 64 and 66. Reels 67 are rotatably mounted between the sideplates 62 and 63 in a manner described later. Each side plate of themower has a skid-shoe 68 vertically adjustably secured to the plate bymeans of a pivot bolt 69 and a slot 71 in the shoe 68. Also, a skidassembly 72 is included in the mower and is pivotal thereon and has tworear skids 73 and an intermediate torque tube 74 secured to the rearskids 73. FIGS. l2 and 13 show the rear skids 73 are pivotal on themower by means of an arm 76 affixed to the shoe 73 and held to the mowerbed knife 77 through a bracket 78. Thus the arm or rod 76 is pivotal inthe bracket 78 for moving the rear skids 73 up and down and therebyadjusting the elevation of the mower, along with the adjustment of theskid-shoe 68. To position the skid 76, an adjustable connector 79extends between the mower tube 64 and the torque tube 74. The connector79' consists of two telescoping sleeves 81 and 82. Outer sleeve 81 isconnected to the torque tube 74 through a pin 83 and ears 84 which areaffixed to the tube 74. Also, sleeve 81 is connected to the mower tube64 through ears 86 on the tube 64 and an angled pin 87 which is threadedinto the inner sleeve 82. Sleeves 81 and 82 both have a series of holes,namely, 88 and 89, respectively, and these holes can be matched inaligned pairs for receiving a locking pin 91, as shown in FIG. 7. Withthe four holes 88 in sleeve 81 4 and the three holes 89 in sleeve 82,there are twelve different pin positions possible for setting theelevation of the skids 73. Further, the angle pin 87 is threaded at 90and into inner sleeve 82 so that an additional adjustment in elevationis possible by virtue of the threaded arrangement described.

It will therefore be seen that each mower has a bed knife 77 forpresenting a cutting edge 93 on the angled surface 94 which is presentedto the reel 67. The knife 77 is secured to the mower side plates 62 and63, but the reel 67 can move toward and away from the knife 77, for thedesired adjustment. Thus, the side skid 68, and the rear skid assemblywith shoes 73, support the mowers on the ground such that the rear skids73 normally hold the mowers in the mowing position, and the side skids68 are available for further upwardly supporting the mowers if they meeta rise in the ground. Also, the tube 74 extending across the width ofeach mower is available for suspending an end of the mower over a risein the ground or a curb or the like, and the tube 74 would then functionas a torque tube to transfer the support from the shoe 73 which is onthe ground and to the opposite side of the mower. Therefore, FIG. 12shows the skid-shoe adjustment with the tube 74 in the maximum upwardposition and therefore it would be understood that the lowest holes 88and 89 are aligned and secured by pin 91, as indicated in FIG. 7.Further, plate 86 has a hole 96 which can also receive the upper end ofthe angle shaft 87, so a further elevational adjustment is available.With this arrangement, all mowers can be readily but very accuratelyplaced in the same mowing elevation. The reels have cutting edges 95which are sharpened.

Particularly FIGS. 6 through 9 show the mower construction with thearrangement and the mounting of the reel 67 having the usual pluralityof cutting blades 97, shaft 98 and support plates 99, all rotatablymounted for cutting rotation. Thus, end plates 62 and 63 have largeopenings 101 which provide for the passage of the opposite ends of reelshaft 98 and which accommodate reel bearings 102. A gear box `103 isshown on the plate 62 in FIGS. 6` and 8 which show the front mower 27.Bevel gears 104 are at right angle relation in the box 103, for drivingthe reel `67 from a drive train described later. A bearing supportmember 106 is suitably supported on mower side plate 63 for supportingthe adjacent end of the reel shaft 98.

FIG. 7 shows the right front mower 28, and it shows the bearing supportmember 106 which is pivoted to the side plate 62 at the mounting bolt107. A bolt 108 connects the forward end of the member 106 with anupright adjusting screw 109 which is anchored on the plate 62 by a fixedbracket or plate 111. Upper and lower adjusting nuts 112 connect thescrew 109 with the plate 111 to set the vertical position of the screw109 and therefore the vertical position of the connecting stud 108 withthe member 106. Also, the nuts 112 are shown to have conically shapedinner ends 113, so they fit tightly in the conically upper and lowerpockets on the plate 111 which snugly receives the conical portions 113of the nuts 112, regardless of the angle of the extension of the screw109 through the plate 111, according to the adjustment for the member106. Further, mower side plate 62 has adjusting slots 114 whichaccommodate the mounting bolts 116 extending through the member 106 andthrough the slots 114 of the side plate `62. With the arrangementdescribed, bolts 107 and 116 and stud y108 can be loosened, and nuts 112can be loosened and adjusting screw 109 can be moved up and down byre-positioning the nuts 112 on the screw 109. This of course adjusts thevertical position of the reel shaft 98 at its end adjacent the mountingmember 106, so the reel blades 97 are adjusted relative to the bed knifeedge 93.

.FIG. 6 shows that the gear box 103 is also vertically adjustable, justas described in connection with the mounting member 106, and again theadjusting screw 109 is secured on the plate 1=11 on mower side plate 62,and the box 103has a boss 117 which connects with the lower end of thescrew 109, and the box 103 also has a boss 118 which receives a mountingbolt extending through the plate 62, just as the bolts 116 extendthrough the mounting memlber 106. Further, the box ,103 has a pivot boltsimilar to the bolt 107, so, as clearly indicated and described, the box103 is also vertically adjustable, just as the mounting member 106 isvertically adjustable. Further, both adjusting screws 109 have theconically shaped nuts 112 which are ultimately tightened against theplates 111 and into the conically shaped pockets in the plates 111, sothat the nuts 112 are snug with the plates 111 and therefore theadjusting screw 109 is securely xed for the critical and accurateadjustment desired, and this arrangement of conical nuts 112 exists onboth ends of the mower. Therefore, both ends of reel shaft 98 arevertically adjustable relative to the bed knife 77, and such adjustmentexists on all five mowers.

FIG. 8 shows mower 27 has a compression spring 119 applied between thebearing 102 and a washer 121 aixed to the end of the reel shaft 98. Thusthe spring 119 urges the reel 67 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 8, andthis is the direction which the normal and conventional spiral of reelblades 97 would also urge the reel 67 in the function of mowing. Then,if the reel 67 hit debris, the spring 119 would permit the reel blade 97to accommodate the hitting of the debris as the reel 67 moves to theleft, as viewed in FIG. 8, against the pressure of spring 119. This ofcourse means that the gear 104 on shaft 98 would slightly adjust itsposition relative to the other gear 104, but the reel blades 97 would beprotected from damage of hitting the debis.

FIG. 9 shows the center mower 31 with its reel 67 and blades 97, andthis mower has a shaft 122 extending through mounting members 123 andbearings 124, as shown. In this center mower, a compression spring 126acts against the shaft shoulder 127 and the bearing 124 to again urgethe reel 67 in the same direction that the spiraled blades 97 of thereel 67 are urged in the normal course of mowing and in the normalaction of the blades I97 against the bed knife 77, as is commonly known.However, when the blades 97 hit debris, then the spring 126 permits theblades 97 to become somewhat released relative to their movement towardthe bed knife 77 and toward the debris thereon, so again the reel 67 isprotected from damage.

FIG. 10 shows the right-hand end of center mower 31, and it shows mowerplate 62 and mounting member 123 with the upper adjusting slot 114 whichaccommodates the mounting bolt 1-16. The pivot bolt 107 is also shown,all as described in connection with FIG. 7 and mower 28 relative to thevertical adjustment of the reels 67 to their respective bed knives 77.Of course the other mounting member 123 on center mower plate `63 isalso vertically adjustable, as shown in connection with the one shownplate 123 in FIG. 10. It will also be understood that the wing mowers 29and 30 have adjusting mounting members 123, and FIG. 10 shows theadjusting slots 114 for accommodating the mounting member 123 on theplate 63 of the wing mower 30. The mounting member 123 would also be onthe plate 62 of the wing mower 30, and the same arrangement would beprovided on the wing mower 29.

FIGS. 10 and 11 further show the mounting of the wing mower, the pivotthereof, and the connection between the center mower 31 and the wingmower 30, which connection is similar to the connection between thecenter mower 31 and the wing mower 29. Thus FIG. 10 shows the mowersdown in the mowing position, and it will be seen that the linkage 57 hasan adjusting screw 128 for adjusting the length of the linka-ge 57 andthereby adjusting the connection between the center mower and the wingmowers. Also, the linkage pin 129 is shown slidable in the bracket slot58, and the other end of the linkage 57 would likewise be slidable inthe slot 58 of the bracket 59 on the wing mower.

When the wing mower is lifted manually, the spring 54 is available forassisting the lifting, and the mower tube `66 abuts an arm 129 on thepivot arm 44. This abutment keeps the wing mower in the desired attitudeas it is being raised, so the mower on its plate end 63 cannot swingupwardly beyond the arm 129. Also, because of linkage 57, the mowerplate 63 cannot swing excessively away from the arm 129, with both swingdirections being relative to the mounting sleeve 47. Thus, the arm 44 ispivotedrto the upright position of FIG. 1l, which is the transportposition also shown in FIG. 2. When the wing mower is in the position ofhaving its reel axis vertical, the mower plate `63 is then in abutmentwith a projection 131 on tractor frame 10, as shown in FIG. 11. Hereagain, link 57 prevents the wing mower from overtipping about the sleeve47, and the wing mower is therefore held in a secured position by meansof the link 57 and the tractor frame abutment piece 131.'In the raisedposition, a latch 132, pivotally mounted on the pin 133 on arm 44engages a pin 134 on tractor frame 10, to hold the wing mower in thetransport position by virtue of holding the arm 44 on its pivot shaft43.

In the FIG. 2 and FIG. l1 position, the linkage 57 has pulled upwardlyon its respective connected end with the center mower 31, so the centermower is then also in the raised or transport position, as shown inFIGS. 2 and ll. The center mower raising was also assisted by theheretofore described spring `61 connected between the tractor 10 and thearm S1 which mounts the center mower 31.

FIGS. l through 5 show the drive drain for powering the five mowers. Adrive shaft 136 is driven by the engine 11, in a manner described later,and it extends to a forward location on the tractor 10 where the shaft136 is suitably rotatably supported on the tractor 10 and carries asprocket 137. A drive chain 138 is on the sprocket 137 and is connectedto a lower sprocket 139 which may be on a universal joint shaft 141suitably rotatably mounted on a plate 140 on the frame 10. Universaljoint shaft `141 connects to a forwardly extending universal joint shaft142 which terminates in a universal joint connection 143 connected to ashaft 144 extending into a gear box 103 for driving the front mower 27.Also, a right-angle gear box 146 is suitably supported on the frame 10and contains bevel gears 147 which drive shaft 148 extending over tobevel gears 149. Gears 149 in turn drive a universal joint shaft 151connected through a universal joint 152 to a shaft 153 extendingforwardly to a universal joint 154 which drivingly connects with gearbox 103 of front mower 28. With this sprocket and universal joint drivedescribed, the front mowers 27 and 28 are powered and are driven at thesame and controlled speed. Also, with the universal joints extending inpairs to each of the front mowers 27 and 28, the drive train describedpermits the pivotal action of the mowers, both during mowing and whenraising the mowers 27 and 28 t0 the transport position shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. l shows that the shaft 141 is located so that the mower 27 canswing up and down about a substantially central pivot point asdetermined by the vertical location of shaft 141. However, the shaft 142is a spline type drive having two telescoping sections 156 and 157, topermit the necessary variation in the length of the shaft 142 from therear universal joint thereon to the forward universal joint 143. It willalso be noted that the mower mounting sleeve 32 is offset relative tothe fore-and-aft axis of the front mowers 27 and 28, respectively, sothat the sleeve 32 is toward the gear box 103 on each respective mower.Therefore, in the mowing function and in the transport position shown inFIG. 2, the mowers 27 and 28 will be over-balanced so that they abut thestop pin 38, as shown and as desired. Further, the mowers 27 and 28should not swing about the sleeve 32, in a direction to have theirrespective ygear boxes 103 move downwardly in FIG. 2.

This assures that the spline drive shafts 142 and 153 will not comeapart. Still further, the spline drives or shafts 142 and 153 areactually limited in their outer lateral movement, in the event themowers were to swing as just described, and such limit is because thesplined shafts 142 and 153 would abut the tractor front wheels 16, ifthe mowers 27 and 2.8 were to swing to that extent and about theirrespective sleeves 32.

Continuing to trace the drive train to the mowers, the two wing mowers,and the center mower are driven by the drive shaft 136 through asprocket 158 which drives a lower sprocket 159 through a chain 161. Auniversal joint 162 is driven by sprocket 159 and a first spline shaft163 slidably telescopically connects to a second spline shaft 164 which,through a universal joint 166 and a shaft 167, extends into a gear box168 mounted on one end of the center mower 31. Two bevel gears 169 arethus driven in the box 168 and they drive a sprocket 171 which drives asprocket 172 through the chain 173, so that a universal joint shaft 174is rotatably driven. The shaft 174 is suitably rotatably mounted on thecenter mower 31, in a manner similar to that shown and explained withregard to a shaft 176 on the right end of mower 31 and shown in FIG. 10.

Universal joint shafts 174 and 176 are conventionally and appropriatelyconnected to opposite ends of the center mower reel shaft 122, so thatall rotate together. FIGS. 3, 10, and 11 when viewed together then showthat universal joint shaft 176 has a universal joint 177 connected to afirst spline shaft 178 which in turn is telescopically splined with asecond spline shaft 179. Shaft 179 has a connection to a universal joint181 which in turn has a shaft 183 which is suitably connected to themower reel shaft of the center mower, and which may be shown as shaft183 in FIG. 10. Similarly, universal joint shaft 174 connects to auniversal joint 184 which in turn connects to a first spline shaft 186extending toward the Wing mower 29 and being drivingly connected to thereel 67 of the wing mower 29, in the manner described in connection withwing mower 30 as seen in FIG. 10.

With the drive described, all of the ve mowers are driven at acontrolled and identical speed. Further, it will be seen in FIG. 3 thatthe center mower support or mounting sleeve 53 is offset toward theleft, as viewed in FIG. 3, relative to the longitudinal axis of thecenter mower 31. Such offset provides the necessary balancing of themower 31, weightwise, because of the extra weight exerted downwardly onthe mower 31 and by the gear box 168 and the connections thereto asdescribed. Still further, as seen in FIGS. 2, 10, and l1, the linkage 57connects between r other. This is true both during mowing, when the wingmower end plate 63 may be swung away from center mower 31, either duringmowing, or in the raised transport position.

Also, the drive to the wing mowers 29 and 30, and the pivot for them, bypivot arms 44, are arranged so that the resistance of the mowers againstthe ground would tend to pivot the arms 44 rearwardly of the tractor 10.Taking this into consideration, the spring 54 is then disposed to alsourge the arm 44 rearwardly, so there is no play or clearance, at leastduring mowing, relative to the horizontal positioning of the wing mowers29 and 30.

With regard to the sharpening action of the mowers, FIGS. 1, 4, and 5,particularly show the drive to the mowers for reversing rotation of themower reels 67 so that the lapping action can be performed in thesharpening function, as the reel blades 97 rotate in reverse against thebed knife surface 94. FIG. 1 shows the engine shaft 26 and a cover plate187 over the end of the sprocket housing 24. Also, a stub shaft 188extends rearwardly from a clutch housing 189 suitably mounted on thetractor. FIG. 5 shows a pressure type clutch 190 which is slidablysplined on the tractor drive shaft 23. Shaft 23 has sprocket 191 drivenby chain 192 driven by sprocket 193 on engine shaft 26. A clutch controlarm 194 is suitably pivotally mounted on a shaft 196 on housing 189, andit controls the axial position of the clutch member 197 relative to theclutch plate 198 affixed to the shaft 23 for rotation thereof. Thusseparation of the clutch members 197 and 198 will interrupt the drive tothe stub or jack shaft 199 which carries the clutch member 197 and whichis rotatable relative to the shaft 23. A gear 201 is affixed to shaft199 to rotate therewith and to drive a gear 202 which is affixed to astub shaft 188, rotatably mounted and supported by the housing 189, anda support cover 204 which is removably attached to the housing 189. Agear 206 is affixed to shaft 188 to rotate therewith and to drive a gear207 rotatably afhxed to mower drive shaft 136. In this drive train, theengine 11 then drives the shaft 136 in one direction of rotation forrotating the mower reels 67 in the forward direction of rotation. Also,the clutch is available for interrupting the drive to the mowers, and aclutch control 208 is located on the tractor for the purpose ofcontrolling the clutch 190, as described.

FIG. 5 also shows a sprocket 209 mounted on the stub shaft 188 forrotation therewith, and a `chain 211 is on the sprocket 209 and extendsup to a sprocket 212 which is on a shaft 213 rotatably supported in abearing 214 held by arms 216 removably mounted on the housing 189 andhousing cover 204. Shaft 213 connects to the engine shaft 26, when thecover 187 is removed from its FIG. 1 position, so shafts 26 and 213rotate together to drive the sprockets engaged with the chain 211. Atthe time that the sprockets 209 and 212, along with shaft 213 and chain211, are all mounted as shown in FIG. 5, then the clutch 190 would bedis-engaged so that the drive would go directly from the engine shaft 26and to the stub shaft 188. This would then rotate the gears 202, 206,and 207 in a direction reverse from that heretofore mentioned, andtherefore the drive shaft 136 would also rotate in the reversedirection. With the reverse direction of rotation of the drive shaft136, the mower reels 67 are also rotated in the reverse direction forthe lapping and self-sharpening action mentioned and desired.

Therefore, all of the mowers are positively driven in the forward mowingposition, and they are also positively driven in the reverse directionwhen the lapping action is taking place. Further, all of the mowers arearticularly mounted for adjusting to the ground, as the mowers rock orpivot about their respective mounting sleeves 32 and 47. Still further,the respective sleeves 32 and 47 are both affixed to cradle plates 217spaced apart in the fore-and-aft direction of the mowers and each platebeing respectively secured to the mower cross-tubes 64 and 66 so thatthe mowers are stable in the horizontal plane while at the same timethey are articularly mounted, as mentioned.

The drive train to the mowers, as described and as shown in FIGS. 1, 4,and 5 particularly, provides a transmission operative between the engineand the mowers, and a reversing mechanism is provided in this drivetrain or transmission, for the sharpening or lapping of the mower. Also,just as the reel springs are available for permitting displacement ofthe reels when they strike debris, the springs are available forcontrolling the position of the reel during the lapping process so thatthe reel blades will be snugly disposed in sliding contact with the bedknife surface as the reels are rotated in reverse direction. Of courseit will also be understood, stince it is conventional and commonknowledge to one skilled in the art, that the rotation of shaft 23,while it may be constant in its drive of the hydraulic unit 22, therewould be a control for governing the unit 22 and thereby governing thedrive to the traction wheels 16.

In the spring-mounted reels, the bearings 102 and 124 are conicalbearings having inner races 217 and 217", on reel shafts 98 and 122, andouter races 218, 218 affixed with the respective bearing housings 103and 123. The reel springs 119 yieldingly urge the reels in the directionof spiral action, and in the direction of force between the bevel gears104, which direction of force is along the reel shaft 98 and to theright, as viewed in FIG. 8, to urge shaft 98 rightward in bearing 102 tothe limit permitted by gear 104 and bearing race 217, to snug thebearings and to protect the mower and the gears 104.

What is claimed is:

1. In a tractor-driven lawn mower of the type including two spaced-apartmower side members, a mower reel and a bed knife -both mounted on saidside members and extending therebetween, said mower reel having a centershaft and spirally disposed `cutting blades movable over said bed knifeand thereby being urged toward one axial direction of said reel inresponse to the spiral shape of said blades, bearings on said sidemembers for rotatably supporting said mower reel, drive means connectedto said mower reel for rotating the latter, the improvement comprisingsaid bearings being conical bearings oppositely disposed and rotatablysupporting said mower reel and having an inner race rotatable with saidshaft and an outer race axially fixed with said side member, and aspring disposed between said shaft and said inner race of one of saidbearings for yieldingly urging said reel toward said one axialdirection.

2. The tractor-driven lawn mower as claimed in claim 1, including atractor having a prime mover, drive means operatively connected betweensaid prime mover and said mower for rotating said reel, said drive meansincluding a set of gears with one of said gears being operativelyconnected with said reel shaft for rotating said reel shaft and beingarranged for forcing axially in one direction on said reel shaft, saidspring being disposed in an arrangement to yieldingly urge said shaft insaid one axial direction of force by said set of gears on said reelshaft.

3. The tractor-driven lawn mower as claimed in claim 2, wherein said setof gears is a bevel gear set arranged with one of the gears on one endof said reel shaft and with the said one gear having its bevel facedaway from the remainder of said reel shaft for applying the axial forcein said one direction and with said one direction being the directionfrom said one gear and toward said shaft remainder.

4. The tractor-driven lawn mower as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidbearings include a bearing housing bolted to said side member andslidable up and down on said 10 side member for moving said reel towardand away from said bed knife.

5. The tractor-driven lawn mower as claimed in claim 1, wherein saidbearings include a bearing housing pivotally mounted on said side memberfor pivotal movement up and down on said side member for moving saidreel toward and away from said lbed knife, a connector attached to saidbearing housing at a location spaced from the pivot axis of said bearinghousing for setting the pivot position of said bearing housing, andmeans for securing said connector in selected lpositions correspondingto the selected pivoted positions of said bearing housings.

6. The tractor-driven lawn mower as claimed in claim S, wherein saidconnector is a threaded rod and said means includes a plate affixed tosaid side member and having an opening for said threaded rod to extendtherethrough, said plate having two conical recesses on opposite sidesof said plate and adjacent said opening, and two threaded nuts on saidthreaded rod and having conically shaped portions extending into saidconical recesses for adjustably snugly securing said threaded rod tosaid plate and at various angles of extent of said threaded rod throughsaid plate.

7. The tractor-driven lawn mower as claimed in claim 1, including atractor having a prime mover, an arm pivotally mounted on said tractorand extending therefrom, a sleeve affixed to said mower and extending inthe fore-and-aft direction of mowing movement, a shaft on the extendingend of said arm and being rotatably telescopically received in saidsleeve for pivotally mounting said mower on said arm, and said drivemeans being ilexible for rotationally driving said reel in the variouspivoted positions of said arm on said tractor and of said mower on saidshaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,836,386 12/1931 Nicholes et al.56-294 2,091,077 8/1937 Limbach 56-253 2,671,300 3/1954 Kinkead 56-2492,909,882 10/1959 Lewis 56-7 3,058,281 10/1962 Lewis 56-7 3,410,06311/1968 Speiser 56-7 3,472,005 10/ 1969 Profenna 56--7 RUSSELL R.KINSEY, Primary `Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. 56-12.6

